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Portugal - Exploring the Algarve - Walk in Tavira

I knew I would like Tavira when I walked down this street past a crumbling tile facade and saw an old woman in a colorful headscarf looking our her window. Our eyes met and she smiled and nodded as we walked by in the rain.

Our first order of business was to find something to eat. It was after 3 pm so most lunch places were closed. We found a small snack bar filled with locals (rowdy but harmless) having a bite to eat and drinking beer. We don't speak Portuguese other than a few pleasantries that we learned for the trip so we pointed to this knish type item (filled with pork).

We rounded out the meal with a bottle of Sagres (cost about a euro) and some hot sandwiches. Yum!

Continuing on, we couldn't resist stopping at Pasteleria Tavirense for an espresso and slice of checkerboard cake. The cake was super light and airy -- totally unexpected.

Just like Spain, I liked how restaurants in Portugal print their name and contact information on their napkins as a sort of calling card.

We arrived at the RiverGilãoand admired Tavira's well-preserved traditional Algarve architecture reflected in the water.

We stopped into Mercado da Ribeira...

...and admired the different crafts and baked goods on offer.

There were also a number of creative Christmas trees on display from a local school.

We walked back outside and were greeted by this colorful rowboat floating on the water.

We crossed the river and admired the Ponte Romana (Roman Bridge) further upstream leading into the formerly walled section of town.

Tavira enchanted us with its colorful tile work...

...and ornate door knockers.

We stopped into a local grocery store and picked up a bottle of Vinho Verde (young white wine) for later before heading back to Quinta do Caracol for a siesta before supper.